2000 mile fun run
Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 7:00 am
Fellow 2-strokers, (Sorry for the long post)
I just got back from a great ride. My best bud Bob rode out from NC on his Fat Boy and his girl on her 883. They're doing a coast to coast ride. So I had to jump in here at Tucson and join the ride.
It was a blast. Rode from Tucson to San Diego for the official put the feet in the Pacific ritual. Then it was off to Barstow to Flagstaff to Albuquerque to Sante Fe to Socorro and back to Tucson, around 2,000 miles in four days. We met up with JaMoo for breakfast. Great friends, great time.
This was my first long distance ride on the Buffalo. Some observations:
- The bike ran great, except for an unexplained loss of power on the first day. It was after running at 90 mph on the gauge (around 81 actual) for probably an hour. It was hot, around 105. The temp gauge was at the 3/4 mark, so it seemed to be okay temp wise. I was concerned that I might have hurt the engine, but checked the plugs and they were good. I did have to add some water, it did take some, hard to judge the amount out of a hose. Put some fresh gas in. Tightened down the battery, posts were a little loose. After that she was good to go. Anyone ever have that happen to them?
- Got between 30 and 36 mpg, depending on how hard we were hitting it. Most of the time we were running between 85 to 90 on the gauge.
- We were two up. This was our first long distance ride for Kim and I. She did great. I had to wake her up a couple of times when I felt her helmet pushing on the back of my helmet.
- They have some of the worst drivers in Albuquerque. Folks were racing on the freeway in town, cutting people off. We saw one accident when an exit backed up as those racing couldn't stop in time. They're nuts out there.
- A handful of times people would come by to admire the vintage bike. I even met a retired producer in Santa Fe who loved the bike. As Bob said, you could be sitting next to a $50,000 Harley and they'd just walk right by it to admire the Buffalo. Too funny.
- Ran both high test and standard gas. I couldn't tell a difference on the highway. The bike ran strong even with two up.
- Started with synthetic oil and transitioned to standard. The bike just kept clicking along.
- Southern California has the worst traffic... I think we spent a lifetime there one afternoon. The only good thing is that its legal to drive between cars there. Its still a long day splitting traffic.
- Hit a hard rain on I-40 near Albuquerque. It got deep in some spots, slowed down some and the bike did great. It never missed a beat.
All-in-all both man and machine did well. Kim and I are looking forward to our next trip, maybe riding out to Deals Gap next year. The Buffalo is designed and built well IMHO.
See ya,
Ron
I just got back from a great ride. My best bud Bob rode out from NC on his Fat Boy and his girl on her 883. They're doing a coast to coast ride. So I had to jump in here at Tucson and join the ride.
It was a blast. Rode from Tucson to San Diego for the official put the feet in the Pacific ritual. Then it was off to Barstow to Flagstaff to Albuquerque to Sante Fe to Socorro and back to Tucson, around 2,000 miles in four days. We met up with JaMoo for breakfast. Great friends, great time.
This was my first long distance ride on the Buffalo. Some observations:
- The bike ran great, except for an unexplained loss of power on the first day. It was after running at 90 mph on the gauge (around 81 actual) for probably an hour. It was hot, around 105. The temp gauge was at the 3/4 mark, so it seemed to be okay temp wise. I was concerned that I might have hurt the engine, but checked the plugs and they were good. I did have to add some water, it did take some, hard to judge the amount out of a hose. Put some fresh gas in. Tightened down the battery, posts were a little loose. After that she was good to go. Anyone ever have that happen to them?
- Got between 30 and 36 mpg, depending on how hard we were hitting it. Most of the time we were running between 85 to 90 on the gauge.
- We were two up. This was our first long distance ride for Kim and I. She did great. I had to wake her up a couple of times when I felt her helmet pushing on the back of my helmet.
- They have some of the worst drivers in Albuquerque. Folks were racing on the freeway in town, cutting people off. We saw one accident when an exit backed up as those racing couldn't stop in time. They're nuts out there.
- A handful of times people would come by to admire the vintage bike. I even met a retired producer in Santa Fe who loved the bike. As Bob said, you could be sitting next to a $50,000 Harley and they'd just walk right by it to admire the Buffalo. Too funny.
- Ran both high test and standard gas. I couldn't tell a difference on the highway. The bike ran strong even with two up.
- Started with synthetic oil and transitioned to standard. The bike just kept clicking along.
- Southern California has the worst traffic... I think we spent a lifetime there one afternoon. The only good thing is that its legal to drive between cars there. Its still a long day splitting traffic.
- Hit a hard rain on I-40 near Albuquerque. It got deep in some spots, slowed down some and the bike did great. It never missed a beat.
All-in-all both man and machine did well. Kim and I are looking forward to our next trip, maybe riding out to Deals Gap next year. The Buffalo is designed and built well IMHO.
See ya,
Ron
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I think you guys are way smarter than that.. But since you have already went and done it...Welcome to the NRRC.. Not Right Riders Club.. President being our own Jeff Gootblatt.
